Bomb



July 20, 1937. J, u sw 2,087,287

BOMB

Filed June 5, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN OR ATTORNEY July 20, 1937.

J. P. HULSWIT BOMB Filed June 5, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR TORNEY July 20, 1937. J, u sw -r 2,087,287

BOMB

Filed June 5, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 20, 1937. J. P. HULSWIT BOMB Filed June 5, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I I I INVE w.

KM Wak- Patented July 20, 1937 UNITED STATES PATIENT" OFFICE 7 BOMB JanPien-e Hulswit, Norwalk, Conn.- Application June 5, 1936, Serial No. 83,605

8 Claims.

My invention relates to aerial bombs and more particularly to a bomb device adapted to be dropped from an aircraft flying over water.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a bombing device which, if a clean hit is not obtained and the device falls on water, one or more bombs will be released from a carrier device and will be propelled by a self-contained power plant along the surface of the water. Thus, even though arclean hit is not obtained, it is still possible for one or more of the bombs to reach the target. Preferably, four bombs or more are provided for each carrier and arranged equi-distanced around the sides thereof, so that upon striking the water, the bombs travel away from the point of contact in four or more difierent direction, thus making it practically certain that at least one of the bombswill find the target.

Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby operation of the self-contained power plant in each bomb is initiated as a result of the impact of the bombing device with the water.

Thus, power is not wasted while the bomb is falling through the air.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and of which:

of my invention showing two bombs secured to a carrier;

Fig. 2 is a side view of a bomb after it has been released from the carrier;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the bomb shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a side view similar to Fig. 4 but showing certain parts in a difi'erent position;

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the device shown in Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. '7 is a side view on an enlarged scale of another portion of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a side view similar to Fig. 7 but with 45 certain parts in a difierent position;

Fig. 9 is an end view of the tail of the bomb shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing another embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 but with certain parts in a different position; and

Fig. 12 is an end ,view of the device shown in Fig. 11.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, reference 55 character [0 designates generally a bomb car- Fig. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment rier and reference character II designates generally a plurality of bombs adapted to be secured thereto. The carrier with the bombs attached is adapted to be released-and dropped as a unit from an aircraft. As shown there are two bombs, although any number more than one may be employed, and it is usually preferable to have four or more bombs. As a matter of fact, a single bomb might be used if the carrier were properly weighted to maintain it in balance.

Carrier Ill includes a shaft [2- to the upper end of which are securely connected rudders I3 for the purpose of maintaining the device in a substantially vertical position during its descent. Rig-idly secured to shaft-l2 below rudders I3 is a circular member M to which are releasably secured the tails [5 of the bombs H. Member I4 is provided with a plurality of radial grooves I6 equal in number to the number of-bombs. Pins l1 bridge these grooves and are adapted to be positioned within slots l8 formed in the tails of the bombs, as is particularly shown in Fig. '1. Each tail I5 is formed with a curved cam surface IS, the lower part of which rests upon a solid bottom 20 of member [4.

Formed either integrally with the bomb H, or integrally with a boat rigidly secured to the bomb, are laterally extending wings 2| having a proper contour for supporting the bomb on the surface of the water when the bomb is propelled therethrough. Extending downwardly from the center of the bomb at its lower or forward end is a fin-like structure 22 which serves somewhat as a center-board to maintain the bomb in a position with the wings 2| substantially horizontal. Fin 22 is formed with a projection 23 which is adapted to be received within an opening 24 formed in a circular disc 25 slidably mounted on shaft I2. Normally disc 25 rests upon a head 26 rigidly secured to the lower end of the shaft. If desired, a spring 21 may be placed around shaft l2 and compressed between disc 25 and collar 28 secured to the shaft for the purpose of holding the disc in its lowermost position against head 26.

It will thus be seen that, with the parts in the positions shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 7, the bombs II are securely attached to the carrier l0. Contact of the lower part of surface i 9 with member 20 prevents downward movement of the bomb with respect to the carrier, engagement of tail l5 within groove l6 and engagement of pin ll within slot l8 prevents lateral movement of the upper part of the bomb with respect. to the carrier. Projection 23 engaging within opening 24 in disc 25 prevents lateral movement of the lower part of the bomb with respect; to the carrier.

Consequently, when the device is dropped from an aircraft, it falls through the air as a unit, the rudders 3 maintaining it in a substantially vertical position. In the case of a clean hit on a target, such as a ship, the impact of the detonator heads 29 of the bombs causes all of the bombs to explode causing great damage to the target. However, should the device fall on the water adjacent to the target, impact of disc 25 with the water causes it to move upwardly on shaft l2, against the force of spring 21 if such spring is provided, thus releasing projections 23 of fin 22 from engagement with opening 24 in the disc. The bombs, having been released at their lower ends from the carrier, are free to pivot about the pins ll. The contour of the bombs aswell as of wings 2| tends to cause them to pivot in this manner upon impact with the water. This pivoting causes the upper part of cam surface l9 to contact the inner wall of groove IS in member M, as is shown at 29' in Fig. 8, thusforcing the bomb away from the carrier so that pin moves out of slot l8. Thus, the bomb is completely released from the carrier.

Each bomb is provided with a self-contained power plant of any well known type, as is used in torpedoes, which is connected to drive one or more propellers 30. Operation of. the power plant is initiated by movement of a rod or cable 3| connected within the bomb to the power plant and extending outside the bomb and along the tail l5. Cable 3| is connected at 32 to a bellcrank lever 33 pivoted to the tail at 34. Arm 35 of lever 33 normally extends across the open end of slot l8. Preferably, duplicate controls, consisting of cable 3| and bellcrank lever 33 are provided on opposite sides of tail l5, as is shown in Fig. 9, the free ends of arms 35 being connected by a cross member 36.

Instead of having cables 3| and bellcrank levers 33 on the outside of the tail, the latter may be constructed with a central slot in which are disposed a similar cable and lever, which are thus protected from damage and do not interfere with passage of the bomb through the wa-.

ter.

When the bomb is pivoted to the position shown in Fig. 8 and is forced away from the carrier by the camming action, pin I! in moving out of slot 8 contacts the ends of arms 35, thus pivoting bellcrank lever 33 in a clockwise direction and exerting a pull on cable 3|. As above stated, this cable is connected to the power plant within the bomb so that movement in this (iirection initiates operation of the power plant. Inasmuch as the tails l5 are still partially within groove l6 when operation of the power plants is started, the carrier serves to aim each bomb, in

- a different direction. Rotation of propellers 30 drive the bombs through the water, wings 2| acting to maintain the bombs on the surface. The bombs continue in substantially straight courses, radiating from the point of impact with the water; untilthey strike a target or the source of power for operating the power plant is exhausted. Thereafter, they either float on the surface or sink to the bottom, depending upon the buoyancy of the bombs.

It will be noted that in the embodiment described the operation of the power plant is not initiated until the bombs have been pivoted to-a substantially horizontal position and are thus substantiallywholly in the water. If it is desired to initiate operation of the power plant so that the propellers will be rotating before they are submerged, the controls may be arranged as is shown in Figs. 10, 11, and 12. As here shown, 5 the controls are operated by the upward movement of disc 25 which also releases the projection 23 from the disc, andwhich occurs immediately upon impact with the water and before the bomb has been pivoted to a horizontal position. As is 10 shown in these figures, a rod or cable 31 is secured to a lever 38 pivoted at 39 to the fin 22. Lever 38 in the position shown in Fig. 10, extends over and parallel with disc 25. When the disc is moved upwardly by impact with the water to 15 the position shown in Fig. 11, it pivots lever 38 in a counterclockwise direction, thus exerting a pull on rod or cable 31 which is connected with the power plant so as to initiate operation thereof. As was the case in the first embodiment it is preferable to provide duplicate controls on both sides of fin 22, the free ends of lever 38 being connected together by means of a cross member 40.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 10 through 12 is of particular advantage in the case of bombs having a greater specific weight than water, inasmuch as the fact that the propellers are in op eration before the bombs are cast loose from the carrier in the water assures that they will be 30 under way before they are completely submerged, thus increasing their range.

While I have shown two more or less specific embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that this has been done for purposes of 3 illustration only and does not constitute a limitation of the scope of my invention, which is to be determined by the appended claims viewed in the light of the prior art.

What I claim is:

1. In a bomb device adapted to be dropped from an aircraft into water, a carrier, a plurality of bombs maintained in a substantially vertical position during descent by said carrier, and means for turning each bomb to a substantially horizontal position substantially immediately upon contact with the surface of the water.

. 2. In a bomb device adapted to be dropped from an aircraft onto water, a bomb carrier, a plurality of bombs disposed around said carrier and releasably secured thereto, a self-contained power plant in each bomb for propelling the bomb through water, means for initiating operation of said power plant upon impact of the device with water, and means for releasing said 55 bombs from said carrier upon said impact and for aiming each bomb in a difierent direction, whereby said bombs travel in paths radiating from the point of impact.

3. In a bomb device adapted to be dropped from 60 anaircraftinto water, a bomb carrier including relatively movable parts, resilient means for retaining said parts in fixed position, one of said parts being arranged to be moved relative to the remainder of the carrier against the force of said 65 resilient means by impact with water, and a bomb connected to both of said parts and releasable from both of said parts by relative movement of said parts.

4. In a bomb device adapted to be dropped from an aircraft into water, a bomb carrier including a main part and a bottom part movable with respect to said main part upon impact with water, a bomb pivotally connected to said main part and engaging said bottom part, so as to be held in a 75 substantially vertical position, said bomb being disengaged from said bottom part by the aforesaid movement of the bottom part, and means secured to said bomb for pivoting it about said pivotal connection to a substantially horizontal position upon disengagement from said bottom part.

5. In a bomb device adapted to be dropped from an aircraft into water, a bomb carrier including a main part and a bottom part movable with respect to said main part upon impact with water, and a bomb pivotally connected to said main part and engaging said bottom part so as to be held in a substantially vertical position, said bomb being disengaged from said bottom part by the aforesaid movement of the bottom part, the contour of said bomb being such as to cause impact of the bomb with water to pivot the bomb about said pivotal connection to a substantially horizontal position upon disengagement from said bottom part.

6. In a bomb device adapted to be dropped from an aircraft into water, a bomb carrier including a main part and a bottom part movable with respect to said main part upon impact with water,

35 bottom part, and means operative by-the pivoting of said bomb for moving said pin out of said slot.

7. In a bomb device adapted to be dropped from an aircraft into water, a bomb carrier including a main part and a bottom part movable with respect to said main part upon impact with water, a bomb connected to said main part by a pin and slot connection and engaging said bottom part so as to be held in a substantially horizontal position, said bomb being disengaged from said bottom part by the aforementioned movement of the bottom part, the contour of said bomb being such as to cause impact of the bomb with water to pivot the bomb about said pin to a substantially horizontal position upon disengagement from said bottom part, means operative by the pivoting of said bomb for moving said pin out of said slot, mechanism for propelling said bomb through water, and means actuated by movement of. said pin out of said slot for starting operation of said mechanism.

8. In a bomb device adapted to be dropped from an aircraft into water, a bomb carrier including a main part and a bottom part movable with respect to said main part upon impact with water, a bomb connected to said main part by a pin and slot connection and engaging said bottom part so as to be held in a substantially horizontal position, said bomb being disengaged from said bottom part by the aforementioned movement of the bottom part, the contour of said bomb being such as to cause impact of the bomb with water to pivot the bomb about said pin to a substantially horizontal position upon disengagement from said bottom part, means operative by the pivoting of said bomb for moving said pin out of said slot, mechanism for propelling said bomb through water, and

means actuated by movement of said bottom part 35 for starting operation of said mechanism.

JANPIERREHULSWIT. 

